TFP: Real, EMP or John's TAB? (If there's proof, there's a chance)

I haven't been long to the forum so I haven't introduced myself of anything but I'd like to give something about that troubling last episode. This is not for criticism and I don't know if it has been addressed already here. I am just happy to be part of this fandom and read all the amazing theories we can come up with. The theories I'm going to list are not written by me (I might have thought about many things to explain to myself what is going on but I'm hardly the person who will sit and investigate and write them) so I'll be giving credits all over to the amazing Johnlock community in Facebook or Tumblr

However these theories are NOT addressing to TJLC only. They are just trying to find answer for inconsistencies and plot holes generally. So feel free to read and enjoy the crazy adorable readings fans give to our favourite show <3

Also I am using abbreviations for the episode titles, hope it doesn't get confusing :/

There are mainly three theories going around right now:1. ALL OF IT IS REAL (which implies Moftiss are not playing with us about anything and they are entirely honest about not having any other footage and seriously believe this season was the best they ever wrote)2. Extensive Mind Palace theory - EMP (which means parts of the season are in Sherlock's mind at least up to TLD and maybe since HLV)3. TFP is John's TAB (basically John hallucinating after being shot by Eurus for real)

1. So basically if it is all real the only hope that people who are disappointed with the show can have is a secret fourth episode. So here is a question: Can we really believe that our wonderful, well-thought, obsessed with mind-games, playful, beloved and clever writers -even if they are not as clever as we thought- would ever leave so many fans disappointed on their writing? And if they hide a secret episode, if it was all real, can they fix everything? Every little plot hole they "accidentally" left slip? I'll leave you to think about it

2. There are many theories on EMP. Basically I have seen about three or four different ones. Here's the ones I most read about:a) We are in Sherlock's mind since he got shot by Mary in HLV and we are moving from reality to his mind palace all the time. TAB was almost wholly in his mind palace and this flipping in and out of reality continues up to TLD.b) We are in Sherlock's mind palace since TAB up to TLD. That's why all the water in T6T from the moment he saw Thatcher's pictures. His flipping in and out, trying to keep himself away from the drugs he took even before the plane scene. c) Sherlock is retelling what actually happened to protect John (since T6T was already addressed in John's blog and the blog is BBC canon and it is a different story) (protect John by not telling the real story: probably because John had to do something bad to keep them both safe). This is not strictly speaking EMP since many people think he retells the story when interrogated by Cuvelton Smith (In this case TLD is partly real and maybe Cuvelton even administrated Sherlock with the TD-12 which damaged some of Sherlock's memories or brought them to the surface? -Redbeard, I dunno, whatever-). This theory also consists of trying to solve an inconsistency about Mary's character. In this version Mary shouldn't have a redemption character arc before she died (here comes the part that John probably had to do something bad we were talking about, many people say he had to kill her. I have to admit not very fond of it, I am just laying it all out for you to decide). More on this because it is more complicated to explain on one of the links above.

3. TFP being John's version of TAB in my opinion stands a bit out of the rest as the most likely one. The reason's for this is that EMP focuses on Sherlock Point of View and that means we haven't seen the real John for about a whole season (although the last EMP version probably takes as reality every scene that John is seeing Mary because it is clearly John's POV and also almost all TLD especially everything after the hospital scene and Sherlock almost dying -although some have said it doesn't make sense that his birthday was mentioned since we know he has it on January and that means a whole year must have past since HLV Christmas with Sherlock's parents. However it seems good to me since the baby is shown quite grown, but it would be weird if they had left so many gaps-). Anyway going on with John's TAB theory. This is mostly also a TJLC supporting theory but it is interesting for whoever keeps reading this, lol. This firstly requires John being shot for real (probably not in the head, please). So we actually see him hallucinating in his mind bungalow as he calls it while trying to hold on to life (my small head can make sense of it but can also make sense if John was shot with a tranquilizer, he could also have hallucinations there, couldn't he? But this doesn't fill the plot holes as the real theory does so don't mind me). This brings up Johnlock because we were hinted towards the ACD canon story during TFP (the three brothers?) of the Three Garridebs where John gets hurt and Sherlock... well, let's just say something really interesting happens for TJLCers (search it up, here is an extensive analysis: http://www.nekosmuse.com/withlovesh/?p=175 and here's the particular quote: https://angel-loving-star.tumblr.com/post/156167408351/wait-a-minute ).So if John gets shot (something tjlc theory was expecting since three years ago? i dunno... also Mary's death was pretty predictable, for me at least, so I'm sticking with this theory because it is what brought me up to this point and everything it was saying generally was right <3 ), Sherlock basically needs to save him. The problem here is that we haven't seen John accepting himself even though he practically told himself through Mary to "get the hell on with it" (if not being the man he really is then.. what?). We saw Sherlock accept himself in TAB, in his mind palace, in a near death situation. So when Eurus shoots John... Basically we have the same for John. In his near death situation, he hallucinates everything in TFP (while maybe Sherlock is above him in the hospital trying to bring him back to reality which influences John in his hallucinations as well). In his mind, John projects everything about himself to the rest of the characters just as Sherlock did in TAB.Before I get to the explanation of the theory, I'd like to point out some facts that inspired it (all of them can be found in the sources above). First of all, as you all know, almost 20 horror movies are referenced in TFP. From John's blog we have seen he liked very much his 007 time and also from T6T and TLD we are constantly reminded of how many movies he watches and how well he knows them all (seriously, John's conversation with Mary about Rosie with the 666? John practically corrects her while he is half-asleep). Like in TAB we have Sherlock seeing the "mad and gothic enough" world, in TFP we see John's love of Bond and Hollywood cliche and horror. Secondly, Mycroft is completely out of character because that's how John actually sees him, he sees through him, he sees how Mycroft has made mistakes and led Moriarty to Sherlock but he also sees how Mycroft cares about Sherlock enough to sacrifice himself. John sees also Mycroft as a coward sometimes and that's why we see him throw up at the first sign of blood. Third, we see John's worst fears through Sherlock ignoring Vatican Cameos. Fourth, we see the parallel of TAB with the plane and the landing again (only this time is John trying to survive a bullet wound and like Sherlock learns in the end of TAB, John will always be there when he lands. John needs to learn the same thing, that Sherlock will always be there when he lands). In his mind, John is Eurus and we see a clear parallel of that by having small Eurus in supposedly Sherlock's memories wear the same sweater John was wearing earlier in the Sherlock series. We see also the girl on the plane sitting at exactly the same place were John was sitting in T6T on the plane with one empty space between him and Mary, and the girl has one empty space between her and her mother. Everyone in the two planes is sleeping too. The camera shots are the same. John is Molly. Molly has always been a John mirror so blatantly in the whole series. Now, she literally wears the sweater she was wearing when Sherlock asked her to solve crimes with him like John used to do when he gets back to London in s3. Sherlock calls her John during the whole day even though he said to her to be herself. The riddle of the graves was impossible to be carved there from the beginning since Eurus was one year smaller than Sherlock. Sherlock when solving the puzzle which is shown wholly on screen adds one verse that doesn't exist in the numbers "Without your love". We have similar spinning and surreal cinematography just like in TAB to hint us this is not real.That's the least I could gather. There are loads more that I haven't mentioned but to keep this short here is a bit of further explanation (that's probably only for TJLCers but if you like the evidence so far, you are welcome to read, see if it makes sense and if you like it, you can believe it):In TFP we have a Molly/John sized coffin. Molly's character arc doesn't match with the one saying "I love you" but if this was John's mind then we have a John that deems it impossible to stop loving Sherlock so projecting himself into Molly he not only realizes that he does love Sherlock but that Sherlock also loves him.John projects his 'bad' self into Eurus. We heard Eurus admitting having sex with someone from unidentified sex? Who also died from her abuse? Eurus is the part of John which he has closed up in an isolated island, behind a glass cell (or a coffin which is paralleled in TAB as a closet -in this case Sherlock breaks the coffin/closet). So we probably see that Eurus is John's hidden sexuality which he deems very very wrong. However, Sherlock not only breaks the coffin but also John/Eurus is telling him to look for what he doesn't see, he is telling him to come closer. Finally, John is realizing that there is no glass, that he can touch Sherlock because he wants to, that he can be free. Then about the "I want to break free" song: John listens to it in his mind while Moriarty comes in (who is Sherlock's bad and hidden self/sexuality from TAB) and is the Christmas present of Eurus/John...? Remind me which Christmas was that? Five years ago... The Christmas of TSiB where John thinks Sherlock has an interest in Irene and he resigns when Irene (an expert in sexuality) says to him that they are a couple and "look at us both" and John looks resigned as if caught and then tries to run and explain himself to Sherlock (who was listening all the while) but Irene stops him? Another clue about "I want to break free": Sherlock suddenly found in a room with fake walls and he pushes one and at the same time all the others fall... Take a look at Queen's original "I want to break free" video (yes, I know it is Mrs Hudson in her kitchen but what happens in 2:05?): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEKVLjXO2FkAnother small cute clue I loved was the way Sherlock played John/Irene's theme as 'him' (TJLCers if you are still reading you know what I'm talking about) and Eurus asked him if he had sex ;) well this one is one of John's constant worries and fears about Sherlock being with Irene but well... He doesn't know that Sherlock wrote the piece for him and not Irene... um... awkward...

So basically this is all. I have so much more to write but I feel I've been making this exhausting. All the sources and pictures and posts are included on the top two sources I gave. I am sorry if I am being a little bit subjective in the end, just wanted to express my thoughts and opinion. I wanted to write about the 4th episode but it is too much to include in here so the second source I've put has all the information you need on that. Sorry, I was focusing mostly on the third theory, that's where I was going from the beginning but there are load of stuff about the others ones or this one that I didn't even get to mention. This is work made from amazing people and I am not trying to steal any ideas for myself, I put the sources and I just wanted to write my point of view on it

Have a good day, dear Sherlockians.And for whoever is discouraged: Don't give up. Even if this is the end, we have 4 whole seasons to rewatch <3

I won't go into every point (I might come back to it), but I just wanted to say that I think it's extremely unlikely that there's a secret episode. Moftiss might be happy to write one, but I think the BBC would want people to watch it - so it would be publicised, not secret. The series has finished and there is a different programme on tomorrow night at that time.

It definitely looks as if this episode was written as an ending of sorts (although one that could be picked up and continued eventually). It doesn't seem to be "asking" for another episode straight after. I know some fans didn't like TFP, but some did - my feeling is that in the possibly last episode, Moftiss did indulge themselves more - insane wish fulfilment! And not everybody liked that. There has been similar criticism of Moffat over Doctor Who - excellent at writing, not so good with having free rein at running the show. Personally, I loved the episode, though!

To get to your point about John being shot - Eurus wants to keep him alive, because Sherlock will save her through trying to save John. Now, I know you can say that most of what we know about Eurus is in John's imagination! But then ... what's the point? We've finished off the story learning about Redbeard (something which John hadn't shown any particular interest in) and Sherlock's past and what made him what he is. All that would be destroyed if it was just part of John's "dream".

It also just doesn't feel like John's dream. Why would he be so interested in Mycroft? And there's no precedent for John using dreams/mind palace to work something out, in the way we see Sherlock in TAB.

Liberty wrote:

Welcome, Angel! I see a lot of thought has gone into all that!

I won't go into every point (I might come back to it), but I just wanted to say that I think it's extremely unlikely that there's a secret episode. Moftiss might be happy to write one, but I think the BBC would want people to watch it - so it would be publicised, not secret. The series has finished and there is a different programme on tomorrow night at that time.

It definitely looks as if this episode was written as an ending of sorts (although one that could be picked up and continued eventually). It doesn't seem to be "asking" for another episode straight after. I know some fans didn't like TFP, but some did - my feeling is that in the possibly last episode, Moftiss did indulge themselves more - insane wish fulfilment! And not everybody liked that. There has been similar criticism of Moffat over Doctor Who - excellent at writing, not so good with having free rein at running the show. Personally, I loved the episode, though!

To get to your point about John being shot - Eurus wants to keep him alive, because Sherlock will save her through trying to save John. Now, I know you can say that most of what we know about Eurus is in John's imagination! But then ... what's the point? We've finished off the story learning about Redbeard (something which John hadn't shown any particular interest in) and Sherlock's past and what made him what he is. All that would be destroyed if it was just part of John's "dream".

It also just doesn't feel like John's dream. Why would he be so interested in Mycroft? And there's no precedent for John using dreams/mind palace to work something out, in the way we see Sherlock in TAB.

I'd go for 1. It's all real, and Moftiss love it!

haha thank you for reading all that XD

about the secret episode: there are all sorts of crazy and unusual things going on highlighted in the second tumblr post I linked so you can go check that out because BBC is acting a lot weird lately so I am still not sure Well, I am one of those people that say "I'll believe it when I see it" so no worries on that if it doesn't happen. Still there's the weird fact that Moftiss said they wrote the script in a day? And some un-shown footage hinted by promo pictures there are loads of stuff on that but I do believe Moftiss aren't so smart but that leaves me hanging as to what was tv history and all that so I don't know, we'll see XD

Also keep in mind there was no point in TAB since Moriarty is dead (and Sherlock had taken so many drugs because he was going to die already, he didn't know about Moriarty being back still) so why should John's hallucination have a point except the same point of TAB: Sherlock accepting always being with John and now John accepting always being with Sherlock (I am not implying specific relationship or anything Johnlock here, just the relationship as any individual sees it up to now, either friendship or anything else). And that's why I am saying hallucination and not mind palace technique because John can't do that. If he is deadly shot though he can be unconscious and his subconscious can work similarly without him realising it ;)

besleybean wrote:

I definitely think it's all real.Because if it wasn't...we would still have the problem of Eurus and Redbeard to deal with and I think we're done with these now.

well that's true ;) I was trying to get my head around the writing problems of the episode and if it all was real either they did it on purpose or they have something else in mind so yeah I'm just gonna wait for them to finally talk to social media because this crazy silence is weird

I did have a look at that link - there is an awful lot there, and I'm not always sure what point they're making! I love that we were rick-rolled though! Loo talking about Chekhov - I think she actually did mean Chekhov's work (perhaps about unrequited love?) rather than a hint about Chekhov's gun.

I'm sorry, I've been kind of using mind palace/dream interchangeably when it's set in somebody's mind. But I do think this is flagged up. Even TAB was flagged up as "not real" quite early on, and then it was made clear later. And in TFP it eventually becomes clear that the girl on the plane was a metaphor/acting rather than real. I don't think the episode is realistic, but I think it's real in the context of the show.

I think part of the point of TAB was that it was a one-off episode ... if they had S4 planned (and it looks like they did), then they couldn't just use TST as a one-off, I don't think. But even if they could, the one-off gave them the opportunity to indulge in a Victorian Sherlock, while still keeping some themes going. Wish fulfilment, again . I agree that the Moriarty story didn't really progress ... but we did learn a few things - I think it flagged up some things for S4 - the relationship between the brothers, Redbeard, Mary working for Mycroft, etc.

I do think Appletree Yard will be broadcast tomorrow. Much as I'd love another Sherlock episode, Emily Watson is a fantastic actress and I think I'll really enjoy ATY too, so it's win/win!

angel-loving-star wrote:

besleybean wrote:

I definitely think it's all real.Because if it wasn't...we would still have the problem of Eurus and Redbeard to deal with and I think we're done with these now.

well that's true ;) I was trying to get my head around the writing problems of the episode and if it all was real either they did it on purpose or they have something else in mind so yeah I'm just gonna wait for them to finally talk to social media because this crazy silence is weird

No that's not necessarily true. By now I'm sure we're all in agreement that Sherlock solved the problem of Emilia Ricoletti and The Abominable Bride whilst in his mind palace... and that clearly "wasn't real" in the sense that it didn't happen in the modern day storyline. So what stops him from solving the problems of Eurus and Redbeard in the same way?

Additional materials which completes the storyline of S4 would not necessarily mean negating what has been shown to us already.

TheOtherOne wrote:

angel-loving-star wrote:

besleybean wrote:

I definitely think it's all real.Because if it wasn't...we would still have the problem of Eurus and Redbeard to deal with and I think we're done with these now.

well that's true ;) I was trying to get my head around the writing problems of the episode and if it all was real either they did it on purpose or they have something else in mind so yeah I'm just gonna wait for them to finally talk to social media because this crazy silence is weird

No that's not necessarily true. By now I'm sure we're all in agreement that Sherlock solved the problem of Emilia Ricoletti and The Abominable Bride whilst in his mind palace... and that clearly "wasn't real" in the sense that it didn't happen in the modern day storyline. So what stops him from solving the problems of Eurus and Redbeard in the same way?

Additional materials which completes the storyline of S4 would not necessarily mean negating what has been shown to us already.

I think it all gets back to the point that made me write all this and search them all The episode wasn't at all realistic ;) especially it would make more sense if it was in someone's mind, wouldn't it? and especially because the writers had never written Sherlock like that, which is every trope and cliche of classical horror movies since the start, it makes even more sense for this to be some kind surreal world or a trick or something. haha I just like making up conspiracies XD

Apple Tree Yard is definitely gonna be an awesome show! I don't think it is fake, but BBC is acting weird over it anyway. Not much information has been put out expect of the trailer and production team. And then is Arwel talking about the wallpaper in Rosie's room? Which also has a big apple tree on it... all the other clues in the wallpaper are already in one or the other episode XD Anyway Arwel is a bit of a prankster so who knows what the heck he means! The ricktrolling was fun as well.

As for TAB I don't know... I watched it at first without knowing a thing about any theory out there and it didn't make a lot of sense... It was when I read tjlc that everything made suddenly quite a looot of sense in this adaptation and since then I've been playing with theories for bbc sherlock. However, I'm a traditional fan of the canon so yeah, I can recognise that Doyle maybe once or twice wanted to hint something else but I'll never say no to a good viewing/reading of the real stories ;)

I think the horror tropes were part of the "insane wish fulfilment" - Mark is a big horror fan from childhood! I also don't agree (in the article you linked) that it's a Saw rip-off - there are nods to Saw, I think, but it has a completely different feel and story. I'm surprised people see them as so similar.

But I don't think the episode would make more sense in someone's mind. If you look at TAB, every so often there was something that told you it was mind palace. And then we ended up back where we left them, at the airport. That didn't happen in TFP. Instead we got an "ending" to the whole series.

Sherlock has always been a bit lacking in realism at times, which is fine by me ... if you think of it as having elements of fantasy, superhero, etc. And who wants a gritty, realistic detective show about realistic murders? They exist, but I'm glad Sherlock is a bit lighter - emotional, but something you can watch to escape reality, not remind you of its horrors! TLD was getting a bit closer to the bone with a chillingly realistic villain, so I'm kind of glad that TFP swung back more towards fantasy.

Arwel seems to be saying the wallpaper has the company logo, but he could be just having fun! The rickrolling looks like fun, as well as Paul Weller in secret casting!

Angel-loving-star wrote:"I think it all gets back to the point that made me write all this and search them all The episode wasn't at all realistic ;) especially it would make more sense if it was in someone's mind, wouldn't it? and especially because the writers had never written Sherlock like that, which is every trope and cliche of classical horror movies since the start, it makes even more sense for this to be some kind surreal world or a trick or something. haha I just like making up conspiracies XD"

Hi, Angel! I also felt Final Problem was not realistic enough, which was a problem for me, though there were many aspects of the episode that I did like. I know it is ultimately a fantasy show, no one wants too much reality surrounding murders and the like! But I kept waiting for it to be someone's dream sequence or mind palace or some variation of that, and it just never happened. I really like your theory of TFP being John's hallucination--really interesting thoughts! However, sadly, I think that the creators did actually write the episode as if all of it actually happened. Your idea is more clever in my opinion! Fun to think of all the other theories and ways it could have played out!